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What Does a Software Engineer Do?
What Does a Software Engineer Do?
Written by Coursera • Updated on May 17, 2023
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Software engineers design and create computer systems and applications to solve real-world problems.

[Featured image] Three software engineers collaborate on a project at the office.

Software engineers, sometimes called software developers, create software for computers and applicatio
ns. If you’re an analytical thinker who enjoys solving problems and making digital products easier to use,
you may find a career as a software engineer rewarding.

What is software engineering?

Software engineering is the branch of computer science that deals with the design, development, testing,
and maintenance of software applications. Software engineers apply engineering principles and knowledg
e of programming languages to build software solutions for end users.

Software engineer tasks and responsibilities

Successful engineers know how to use the right programming languages, platforms, and architectures to
develop everything from computer games to network control systems. In addition to building their own sys
tems, software engineers also test, improve, and maintain software built by other engineers.

"I get excited about anything that involves solving problems, whether it be figuring out how to optimize a c
ertain part of an existing application or entirely coming up with new applications to solve certain needs," s
ays Murtadha Al-Tameemi, a software engineer at Meta. "Problems in general stimulate my brain and giv
e me a great sense of satisfaction."

In this role, your day-to-day tasks might include:

Designing and maintaining software systems

Evaluating and testing new software programs

Optimizing software for speed and scalability

Writing and testing code

Consulting with clients, engineers, security specialists, and other stakeholders

Presenting new features to stakeholders and internal customers

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, Database (DBMS), database administration, Build a data model, Design a web application, Debugging,
Authentication and authorization, REST APIs, Filtering and ordering, Serializers and deserializers, Casca
ding Style Sheets (CSS), HTML, Production environments, JavaScript, API endpoints, Pseudocode, Algor
ithms, Communication, Data Structure, Computer Science

Systems developer vs. application developer

Software engineers will usually fall into one of two categories, systems developers or application develop
ers.

As a systems developer (sometimes called a backend engineer), you’ll build things like computer systems
and networks that front-end (user-facing) applications will need. You can do this by:

Ensuring that different types of software programs communicate with each other on one platform

Creating and enforcing IT standards within an infrastructure

Maintaining documentation of IT systems

Updating to new technologies as needed

Collaborating with development teams, senior systems architects, and data science professionals

Working as an application developer is more client-focused. You may work on either the front or back end
of the system, designing software that the end user will interact with. Tasks might include:

Developing applications for iOS, Android, Windows, or other operating systems

Conducting an analysis of requirements and tweaking software as needed

Releasing software updates

Working with graphic designers, customer service staff, project managers, and other customer-facing dep
artments
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Hybrid Multicloud, Cloud Computing, Agile Software Development, Scrum Methodology, Zenhub, Kanban
, Sprint Planning, Basic programming concepts, Careers in software engineering, Programming language
s and frameworks, The Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC), Software Architecture, Shell Script, Bas
h (Unix Shell), Linux, Distributed Version Control (DRCS), open source, Version Control Systems, Github,
Git (Software), Data Science, Python Programming, Data Analysis, Pandas, Numpy, Artificial Intelligence
(AI), Web Application, Application development, Flask, Kubernetes, Docker, Containers, Openshift, serve
rless, Microservices, Representational State Transfer (REST), Cloud Applications, Test Case, Software T
esting, Automated Testing, Continuous Integration, Continuous Development, Automation, Infrastructure
As Code, Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP), Observability, security, Monitoring, logging, a
gile

Read more: What Is an iOS App Developer? A 2022 Guide

Why should I pursue a career as a software engineer?
If you enjoy solving problems and have strong analytical skills, a career as a software engineer can be bot
h fun and challenging. And as technology continues to evolve, the need for software developers continues
to grow much faster than the national average [1].

Choosing a career as a software engineer gives you opportunities to work in many different industries and
fields, as nearly all businesses use software. Whether you enjoy finances, entertainment, sports, real est
ate, or some other industry, there’s a good chance there are jobs for software engineers.

It’s also a career that allows flexibility in where you work. You may be able to work from home for compan
ies in other states or even other countries. The important thing is that you’re able to meet deadlines and d
eliver a project on time.

Software engineer salary

Working as a software engineer can be challenging and engaging, and it also tends to pay well. The annu
al median salary for a software engineer in 2021 was $109,020, according to the US Bureau of Labor Stat
istics [1]. Jobs in software publishing tend to draw the biggest salaries.

Career paths in software engineering

Once you become a software engineer, you can choose which path you want to take (applications or syst
ems) and how far you want to progress with it. You can decide to advance toward a role as a senior softw
are engineer, or you can continue gaining certifications and experience to advance to roles like project ma
nager or systems manager. As a software engineer, you have both flexibility and mobility to create the car
eer experience that is most appealing to you.

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Skills you’ll build:

Linux, Software Design and Architecture, Python Programming, Git and GitHub, Software Development Li
fecycle (SDLC), Basic programming concepts, Careers in software engineering, Programming languages
and frameworks, The Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC), Software Architecture, Shell Script, Bash (
Unix Shell), Distributed Version Control (DRCS), open source, Version Control Systems, Github, Git (Soft
ware), Data Science, Data Analysis, Pandas, Numpy, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Web Application, Applicati
on development, Flask

How to become a software engineer

Getting a job as a software engineer typically involves building the right technical and workplace skills. So
me jobs might also require a certain degree or certification to validate your skills. However, there are man
y ways to enhance your skill set. "Although I did have a formal education, taking online classes on how to
build mobile apps, doing internships where I work on projects at a company, and trying to build my own si
de projects was the most helpful," says Laila Rizvi, a software engineer at Meta.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the requirements for becoming a software engineer.

Software engineering skills

As a software developer, you’ll be designing software to help solve problems that real people face. This re
quires a combination of technical know-how and solid communication skills. If you’re considering this as a
career, here are some skills you should focus on building:

Coding languages like Python, Java, C, C++, or Scala

Object-oriented programming
Database architecture

Agile and Scrum project management

Operating systems

Cloud computing
Version control

Design testing and debugging

Attention to detail

Read more: How to Become a Software Developer | 9 Tips

Software engineering certifications
By earning a certification, you can build new skills and validate those skills to potential employers. Some j
obs might require a specific certification, so it’s a good idea to research some job listings of roles you’re in
terested in before preparing for a certification exam. Here are some common options:

Certified Software Development Professional (CSDP)

Certified Software Engineer

C Certified Professional Programmer (CLP)

C++ Certified Professional Programmer (CPP)

AWS Certified Developer

Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals

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Do I need a degree to be a software engineer?

A bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related degree program is the most common entry-level req
uirement for software engineers. But a degree isn’t the only path toward a development job. According to
a 2020 Stack Overflow survey, 16 percent of surveyed software developers believe that formal education i
s not at all important or necessary. Another 23 percent believe it’s only somewhat important [2].

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Skills you’ll build:

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nterface, Front-End Web Development, HTML and CSS, Responsive Web Design, Test-Driven Developm
ent, Object-Oriented Programming (OOP), Linux, Web Development, Bash (Unix Shell), Github, Version
Control, Debugging, React (Web Framework), Web Application, Application development, Unit Testing, W
eb Design, User Experience (UX), Accessibility, Pseudocode, Algorithms, Communication, Data Structure
, Computer Science

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Meta Back-End Developer

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edential from Meta. No degree or prior experience required to get started.

4.7

(2,769 ratings)

26,740 already enrolled

Beginner level

Average time: 8 month(s)

Learn at your own pace

Skills you’ll build:

Cloud Hosting, Application Programming Interfaces (API), Python Programming, Computer Programming,
Django (Web Framework), Linux, Web Development, Bash (Unix Shell), Github, Version Control, MySQL
, Database (DBMS), database administration, Build a data model, Design a web application, Debugging,
Authentication and authorization, REST APIs, Filtering and ordering, Serializers and deserializers, Casca
ding Style Sheets (CSS), HTML, Production environments, JavaScript, API endpoints, Pseudocode, Algor
ithms, Communication, Data Structure, Computer Science

Article sources
1.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Software Developers, Quality Assurance Analysts, and Testers, https://w
ww.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/software-developers.htm." Accessed October 21, 2
022.

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Written by Coursera • Updated on May 17, 2023
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